If someone has a question about the School of International Service (SIS) at American University, there’s a good chance Rosy Chavez-Martinez, SIS/BA ’24, knows the answer.  

The international studies major has worked at the SIS Service Hub since August 2021. Currently Senior Administrative Assistant, Chavez-Martinez supports over 200 faculty and staff at SIS, streamlines intra-departmental resources, and trains new student workers. 

The centrality of the SIS Service Hub means Chavez-Martinez has developed relationships with faculty and partners beyond those she meets through her concentration in national security and foreign policy in Latin America.  

“My specific current position has definitely given me an inside lens,” says Rosy Chavez-Martinez, citing the launch of SIS Houses in October 2023 as an example of a project she’s supported. “I've been able to talk to professors that are in the Environment, Development and Health department or in the Global Inquiry department.” 

Her expertise has made Chavez-Martinez a go-to point of contact for faculty. 

“If [faculty] go into the office, they're mostly going to ask for me just because they see my face and correspond back and forth with me. They're used to being like, ‘Oh, where's Rosy? I need, Rosy,’” Chavez-Martinez laughs. “It's nice to have that familiarity with them, especially down the line when it comes to networking in the future.” 

Chavez-Martinez has been reflecting on these and other takeaways she’s carrying forward ahead of graduation in May.  

Hailing from Seattle, Chavez-Martinez came to AU because of SIS. Her interest in global affairs began in high school through Model United Nations. When a fellow student mentioned he was applying to AU for international studies, Chavez-Martinez added it to her East Coast college visits.  

Chavez-Martinez toured campus with her sister—a memory, she says, was “really special” for both women.  

“I'm a first-generation graduate, and so being able to experience [the tour] with [my sister] and seeing the campus and hearing about all the opportunities—just the emphasis that they put on scholarships and student help that they have,” recalls Chavez-Martinez, citing The Market food pantry and AU’s current Inclusive Technology Initiative.  

“It resonated really deeply with us just because, as children of immigrants, . . . knowing how hard it can be to go through this process,” Chavez-Martinez continues. “It was really nice to know that if there was a time that I would struggle, AU would be here to help.” 

Seeing the SIS building for herself and learning about the graduates and speakers who have passed through its ranks cemented Chavez-Martinez's interest. She applied early decision and officially became part of the Eagle class of 2024. 

Chavez-Martinez tells her AU story with an eye towards her next steps. In addition to majoring in international studies, she is also graduating with a minor in finance from the Kogod School of Business and a Spanish translation certificate from the College of Arts and Sciences. With this broadened toolkit, Chavez-Martinez hopes to ultimately join the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) with a focus towards Mexico. 

Chavez-Martinez believes that international studies—especially in a Latin American context—is ever-relevant in today’s world. 

“There's always going to be something that's happening around the world, whether it's good or bad, that's going to have international attention,” says Chavez-Martinez. “Mexico is always going to be our neighbor, so it's important to have a relationship with them. And a part of that is having people who are learning about issues, learning how to help combat, for example, the drug trade or human trafficking. People who are there to maintain those relationships.” 

Chavez-Martinez is eager to bring her skills and knowledge to the field after she graduates. “Driven” and “ambitious” are how she describes AU students—two adjectives that aptly apply to her own educational journey.  

She cites the role of scholarships in helping her plan potential career moves. Support from the Raynard Family Scholarship and the Andrew Juster Family Scholarship have eased financial burdens on her and her parents. Chavez-Martinez says that, in helping to cover expenses during her studies, scholarship support has granted her greater security and peace of mind.  

“With those scholarships, they’re able to give me extra money for books or things that I might need for school. But also, at the same time, they allow me personally to be able to save money for after graduation or when it comes to job applications. Say I have to purchase some new clothes or move somewhere closer to a job—with these scholarships, I don't have to worry as much,” says Chavez-Martinez, adding that scholarship support “helps to take your mind off of certain things like financial instability—to focus on your dreams more.” 

With a global vision and strong network of connections from SIS, Chavez-Martinez is looking forward. Driven and ambitious, dreams in focus.  

To learn more about how to support vital scholarships for AU students, visit the Elevate Scholarship Initiative webpage.